U.S. Attorney General: Redskins name “offensive”

While he’s not pursuing it in his job as the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder’s feelings about the Redskins nickname are clear.

Holder made it clear he was opposed to the name during an appearance on ABC’s This Week.

“I’m going to speak very personally now,” Holder said, via ESPN.com. “The name ought to be changed. It’s an offensive name. The Redskins, that organization is a great one. It’s a team with a storied history that has huge amounts of support in Washington, D.C., and in the 21st century they could increase their fan base, increase their level of support, if they did something that from my perspective that is so obviously right.”

While it might not carry the governmental weight of the U.S. Patent Office’s recent trademark ruling, it’s still interesting to note.

Politicians will generally try to stay out of such matters, as President Barack Obama said last fall they should consider changing the name. But Holder’s opinion provides some counterweight to the pandering of some Virigina legislators.

It remains a non-offensive name. This story is kept alive by media and politicians only. Show me the average fan that cares.

I lived in the DMV for 30+ years. Not only did I ever hear it used as or described as an offensive term, I never heard anyone speak of that as a serious possibility.

I’m glad Holder has an opinion, but who cares about it? If we’re going to start getting rid of things that are offensive, how bout we attack White Collar Crime with a similar vitriol. That affects hundreds of thousands, and is violently offensive. But who wants attention drawn to that when you can stand at a podium and play with the Straw Man Redskins argument.

Let the markets decide on this one. Doubt we see the Redskins name run out of business.

I am offended by the lack of legitimate work you and our government is getting done.

All of our government.

The treasonous republicans dragging feet until they get in office…the spineless democrats….delusional tea party….and every single moron who thinks a party system that creates division is still the best way to run this country.

Our government needs to get it’s house in order before acting like they should be anywhere near the issue of a sports team name. ANYWHERE.

A couple things, the main Liberal forces are trying to get voters because they know that they have a really tough road with the elections over this year and next.

The VA legislators aren’t pandering, they are actually smart enough to realize that (wait for it) what their constituents think is how they are supposed to be voting. Not just following a party line. They know that if they go against that name, they will be out of a job quickly. The other politicians opening their mouths realize that their constituents really couldn’t care less.

With as much crap as Holder is already in, should he really be throwing stones?

The name is a word. Words don’t have power without actions behind them. The actions of the team aren’t that of a degrading nature.

Any person can make almost any word, phrase, or saying either offensive or negative. People should remember that.

The folks who want the Redskins to keep their name better work on reeling in their fringe supporters or disowning them.

Ask gun advocates, animal rights advocates, etc about how the crazies who share their opinion end up hurting their efforts. Free speech gives you the right to tell an idiot to shut up – and you can do it in front of other people for maximum effect if you think they’re doing a poor job of representing your cause.

Good god people, calm down! He was asked for his PERSONAL opinion on a topic which he took like 2-3 minutes to give. Stop with the whole outrage of “he has better things to do with his time”. He clearly knows that! I suggest the rest of you find “better things to do with your time” than reading posts on a sports website before getting outraged.

I’m mainly of Swedish descent, so I’m ashamed of the name “Vikings” and what they did. I also have some British ancestors, so I find “Patriots” offensive, due to what they did in the American Revolution. “Cowboys” is also offensive, because I had a Native American ancestor, and they killed – you guessed it – NATIVE AMERICANS (aka Redskins).

Holder is a fake,phoney, and fraud and should be impeached. Much more inportant stuff the justice dept. should be getting into, but wait, I forgot …………………………… he has to protect the chosen one and his minnions first! What a sham this entire name “Redskins” has become. Can’t the idiots just govern? And who can answer the question of why we let the goverment bud in on every private industry in this country?

I can’t believe anyone can say Redskins is not a slur with a straight face. If one of your kids called a Native American classmate redskin they’d get in trouble at school, and I bet as a parent you’d probably tell them it was a terrible thing to do. If you wouldn’t then you are a terrible person and a racist. This is so obvious I can’t believe there is even a debate about it. Is it a word you’d want your children to use to refer to Native Americans? Unless the answer to that question is yes, then you must acknowledge the name needs to go. If you don’t care.. then you are scum.

This coming from a political activist disguised as an AG? Start answering questions about Fast & Furious, the IRS, Benghazi, the mess at the border your boss helped create and is perpetuating. The country is failing in all areas and of course this imbecile can’t see that.

Gonna explain something, for all the good it will do. The question is not whether YOU find the name offensive. Many women do not find the handle “hot body” or “sugar lips” offensive, in fact many enjoy it from their spouses. But no woman would chose the “Sweet Cakes” or the “Sugar Lips” as their national sports franchise name. As a national sports franchise name, these monikers are OFFENSIVE (to some; MANY even) as they may denote the idea of the woman as the sex object of a man – though in some contexts, with her husband for example, she ENJOYS that. Now I realize SUBTLETY is not exactly the byword of the hardcore, hooting’ and drinkin’ football fan, but for the dignity of those Native Americans and non-Native Americans everywhere, who for very clear reasons find the name offensive, just change the damn name. The writing, my friends, is on the wall.

Hey Mr. Holder….last I checked, we live in a free market society. While I appreciate you exercising your 1st Amendment rights, this issue doesn’t have anything to do with upholding the law, which the last time I checked, was your job. Maybe if you focused more on that instead of telling privately owned businesses what they “should” do, you’d do your job better and wouldn’t be thought of as a corrupt, lying politician activist disguised as our AG.

How many of the people complaining about the Washington Redskins name are fans of football and are holding out being fans of the Redskins because the name of the team is the Washington Redskins? I think I am safe in saying that number is 0.

Instead of raising all this money and wasting it on a commercial that will do nothing to sway peoples’ opinions, wasting tax payers’ money on the issue, and wasting time having the government step in and trample over somebody else’s rights, they should be pulling all of their resources together and do the one thing that will certainly get the name changed.

Collect billions of dollars and purchase the team from Dan Snyder who OWNS it, then the people that buy the team can name it anything they want. I do like how this government hack leaves out the possibility that if the team does change the name that the Washing Redskins could LOSE fans.

Good for him. By the way, it absolutely is the “job” of the AG to use his platform to speak out against social injustice.

Make no mistake, the name is going to change–even those against it have stated publicly it’s just a matter of when. When it happens most of you will have to decide which of these categories you fall into:

1. The Redskins keep their name and colors but change their logo to the Script R and get rid of all images of Native Americans from their merchandise and team references.

2. The Redskins keep all the Native American imagery but change the name to Braves or Warriors.

I bet the Native Americans would take option #1. Heck, you probably don’t even have to give them the option. Just do it and they would probably leave the team alone and move onto the Chiefs, Indians and other native american teams.

It’s foolish to pretend that this is about the word redskin, when it is truly about more than that. It has always been about them not wanting archaic portrayals of Native Americans represented by those that aren’t them. It doesn’t make sense to me because I feel that teams adopt Native American names out of respect and a desire to associate themselves with certain aspects of a culture that they find worthy and admirable. Bravery and strong warrior would probably be the main traits associated with Native American imagery that teams would want to be associated with. I guess it is all perception though and everyone has there own perception based on their own history.

Eric Holder is a joke of an AG and epitomizes everything that is wrong with government.
As written in the Wall Street Journal, the willingness of the Obama administration to stoke racial divisions for political gain is astounding.
They don’t give a rip about enforcing laws that would hurt them politically, enforce those that do and play the race and class cards in a most cynical way.
The Obama administration’s mission, as they themselves stated from the start, is to radically transform this country and they will stop at nothing to carry out their mission.
The nation is on the precipice of destruction, but the sheep follow blindly and the wolves in sheep’s clothing who influence them DON’T GIVE A D&MN ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT. WAKE UP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

Oh sure, the Redskins might be offensive, but they’ll only go as far as their defensive can take them. Y’all know the old saying about building a team: A good offensive but bad defensive team will just get you outscored; but a bad offensive but good defensive team will sometimes steal you a game. Most teams build through defensive first. I don’t care how offensive a league the NFL might be, the Seahawks emphasized one bit of wisdom once again: Defensive wins more than offensive.

well that should settle it for anyone who was on the fence about it. if holder and obmmer are for it then the name should STAY! holder is a crook who sold guns to mexican drug cartels and obummer is as incompetent as they come. this is the guy who thinks the economy is doing great and thinks opening the borders to ILLEGAL aliens is a great idea. hope your obama phone and welfare check was worth voting for this loser twice.

fabbeaux says:
Jul 14, 2014 1:42 PM
Gonna explain something, for all the good it will do. The question is not whether YOU find the name offensive. Many women do not find the handle “hot body” or “sugar lips” offensive, in fact many enjoy it from their spouses. But no woman would chose the “Sweet Cakes” or the “Sugar Lips” as their national sports franchise name. As a national sports franchise name, these monikers are OFFENSIVE (to some; MANY even) as they may denote the idea of the woman as the sex object of a man – though in some contexts, with her husband for example, she ENJOYS that. Now I realize SUBTLETY is not exactly the byword of the hardcore, hooting’ and drinkin’ football fan, but for the dignity of those Native Americans and non-Native Americans everywhere, who for very clear reasons find the name offensive, just change the damn name. The writing, my friends, is on the wall.

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Hey fabbeaux…thanks for your 3rd grade explanation. Now let me try to explain it to you in a way YOU will understand. You say…”it’s not whether I find the name offensive.” When did the memo come out that MY voice and what I want is less than YOURS? Guess what, son? There’s gonna be lots of things in this life that YOU don’t like. Just like there’s going to be things in this life that I don’t care for. That doesn’t mean they should get changed. Cause guess what…100% of the people will NEVER be in agreement. Fact.

This is an old and sad argument that’s been played out in this country for the past 100+ years with every minority group; most prominently in the south in the 1960s when demonstrators were met with dogs and fire-hoses. It doesn’t help the WR cause that they were the last team to integrate.
The question to ask is which side of history do you want to be on?
Do you want to be with the people asking for social equality, or do you want to be the guy holding the fire-hose?

Isn’t Holder the same guy who said in testimony to Congress, “With regard to potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material, that is not something that I have ever been involved in, heard of, or would think would be a wise policy.”

And then it turned out Holder signed the search warrant for the journalists email and his parents phone records. This is but one of many examples of Holder’s deception. Eric Holder does not operate with a high level of honesty or integrity so his credibility on any issue should be about zero.

As a Redskins fan, I notice that a lot of the offended people coincidentally happen to be Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants fans. While I don’t agree with them about the name being offensive, I am sensitive to their concerns.

Therefore I suggest they organize a boycott. Starting with the 2014 season, all Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants fans should refuse to buy tickets when their teams play at FedEx Field.

I’m a life long Cowboys fan, but I really hope Dan Snyder sticks to his guns and keeps the name. Screw Holder.

If the redskin’s had to change their name, than at least 10 or 12, other teams would have to change their name due to sensitive people or offense to animal lovers. I’m surprised PETA, hasn’t tried to change the name of the Dolphins, Bronco’s, Eagles, etc.

Why don’t attorney general Eric holder just mind his own damn business and focus more on the crap that goes on in Washington DC rather than worry about wether the redskins should change their team name or c’mon now this is almost about as annoying as before Lebron James changed his mind about returning to the cavaliers this story is getting about as old as Dwayne wades creeky old kness let it go already

People love to say that the word Redskin is clearly offensive but yet I have never seen a clear reason why the word itself is offensive. I want an actual reason why the word is offensive. Not just because the dictionary says so, because the dictionary makes the statement without ever giving an actual definition that makes it clear that it is offensive. So give me 1 real good reason why. You could use it in a sentence where redskin itself is the word used to offend someone. Not a sentence where Redskin is used to replace Native Americans in a sentence that speaks poorly of Native Americans. An actual sentence that makes it obvious that someone wouldn’t want to be a redskin. You could also give me an actual definition that explains what is wrong with being a redskin so that it is obvious that nobody would want to be one. A word can only offend if it is something to be undesired or to be associated with. That I have not seen. Why is being a Redskin undesirable or something that a person wouldn’t want to be associated with? If you can’t legitimately answer those questions, than you can’t claim the word as a truly offensive word. Someone might try and use it to offend you, but it doesn’t make sense to be offended by something that holds no negative value or indication.

The fact that you are but the latest to jump on the p.c. bandwagon to defer attention from the rather offensive fact that your boss is doing such a spectacularly lousy job is something I personally find very offensive.

I am so offended that I have to wipe the tears off my tear-stained face with my Washington Redskins size 4XL shirt.

Holder needs to focus on his job of upholding the law and bring to justice those from the IR, Fast and Furious, and other scandals. Maybe worry more about getting those issues laid to rest. Tired of seeing the liberals get up in arms about this. Let’s worry about criminal acts first.

Redskins name doesn’t hurt the team because if it did, then it would financially take a hit and Snyder would surely change the name if he were losing millions of bucks in protests because of it. However, he’s not so nothing to report here.

What is actually offensive is this clown remaining Attorney General. There is a lot of stuff going on and he refuses to do anything. That smacks of corruption and his agency looks complicit in several cover-ups. He also seems like a racial bigot to me. Just look at the things he will and won’t prosecute and see if you don’t find a pattern. He has zero credibility and his opinion on this issue is predictably shallow and uninformed.

As a Native American, I am offended that the attorney general thinks a term for a warrior is offensive, you would think he would research before he speaks, the term Redskin is OUR term referring to the red clay a warrior would smear on his face before battle.

“If Eric Holder finds it offensive, it must be offensive”… Is that what we have going on with this push to change the Redskins name? See how many people the media can manipulate by having high profile people say they find it offensive? Is this some kind of experiment, like the “Elect Obama” experiment?

I find it offensive and ridiculous that the media and the progressive movement have melded into one, giant machine bent on telling everyone what to do and when to do it. How about we change that?

One of the biggest thing the Redskins could do this year to help themselves is to fly in large groups of student athletes for every game from all the schools with native american kids that continue to proudly use the Redskin team name.

Big surprise that another liberal/democrat criminal in our government is attacking freedom of speech and expression. This is the same guy that refuses to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate IRS targeting. The term “Redskins” , regardless of what liberal hacks would lead you to believe, is a word that originated as a term of honor and fierceness. It was coined as a result of red war paint that was applied before native American warriors went into battle. This politically correct machine needs to be stopped. Conservatives, and everyone else for that matter, in this country need to stand up and do what’s right. This witch hunt to find fault in EVERYBODY and try to exploit it, only damages freedom and liberty more than the left wing already has.

I’m offended that the Redskins still play in Prince George’s County. Move them to either the renovated RFK or if D.C. wants them to change their name, move them to Virginia. Both have much better Metro access anyways.

Holder sees everything through the prism of racism. Not included in this article was his comment that dissent aimed at Obama and the AG was due to racial animus. Only a fool would deny that racism does not exist but this Administration deserves the anger and skepticism of the majority of the American public. GWB had plenty of detractors but nobody blamed that on racist African-Americans. Lastly, a poster commented that only Redskins fans and right wing nut jobs supported the name. If you are neither and support the name give a thumbs up, if not thumbs down.

First, Holder was asked a question and responded. It wasn’t like he just offered an unsolicited opinion out of the blue.

Second, just because you don’t find something offensive to yourself doesn’t mean that it isn’t offensive to others.

Finally, while the government certainly has more important things to do, at least they’re doing SOMETHING by speaking out
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Your second point is dead on!! But that means something is going to be offensive to someone at some point. So do we let the minority (offend group) decide for the majority what is right and wrong? If the Redskins are forced to change their name, next will be the Chiefs, Indians, Blackhawks, Vikings, Saints, Edmonton Eskimos and on and on. Until the schools on the reserves all change their team names from Redskins this argument has no merit. Yes you can be offended but it is not your right to change the name because you find it offensive, the majority say it is fine and the schools on the reserves still want to be called Redskins, that should be enough proof that most are okay with the name.

If one of your kids called a Native American classmate redskin they’d get in trouble at school, and I bet as a parent you’d probably tell them it was a terrible thing to do.
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And if your kid called a very large child a Giant in school they would also get in trouble and as a parent you would tell them that is a terrible thing to do as well..

So now we should change the name of the NY football team and the SF baseball team… See how senseless these arguments are?

If one of your kids called a Native American classmate redskin they’d get in trouble at school, and I bet as a parent you’d probably tell them it was a terrible thing to do.
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If a kid calls a Native American a “redskin” it will be because of all the coverage it has been getting lately. The word “Redskin” was never used toward Native Americans like the N word was and is used against African Americans. No comparison at all. People just don’t call Native Americans, Redskins in this country.

If you think so, post a link to a video of a non-Native calling a Native a Redskin or using the word Redskin in a racist fashion. You’ll be hard pressed to find a video and I doubt you’ll find one anywhere. The N word on the other hand? You can find videos like that on the internet and you would spend the rest of you life trying to view them all.

Redskin is not a racist term because it is not a word used that way. The media has portrayed this issue in the same light as racism toward other races. Problem is, the media has not posted anything factual to prove their argument to bee true. All they say is that the trouble making Oneida’s in NY are complaining. Why do the Oneida’s complain? Because they are sue happy and want money. There is a history of that and you can fins it if you look.

Hey Idiot Holder,
Should all the players that one a Super Bowl Ring as a Redskin throw out their rings?
Should all the trophies in their lobby be trashed?
Should the millions of pieces of memorabilia from their loyal fans be burned?
Why dont you think before you open your idiot mouth?
How do you plan on the NFL referring to the Super Bowls they were in when they have their history shows?

Invoking politicians – particularly this gem, Holder – in the anti-Redskins campaign is ridiculous. You wanna actually try to sway some opinions in your direction? Start quoting some actual native Americans, that are NOT from that Oneida mouthpiece. Wait – there aren’t any in any significant number? Imagine that.

I do love all the people using their freedom of speech to complain about someone else using theirs. Sorry not everyone agrees with you, but that’s going to happen in life. That stupid stuff about “thought police” certainly can go both ways, hmm? If your best agreement sums up as insults and pseudo political diatribes, well, I suppose it’s perfectly in line with the topic anyways right? Hypocrites, the lot of you.

I kinda remain near the fence on this issue and I’ve argued it both ways here at times just to be a troublemaker that way. The best argument I’ve seen so far against the change is one I’ve made here myself: Black and white are common and accepted racial references, “redskins” isn’t much different from those. Black and white both refer to skin color too, of course.

However, I wouldn’t name a football team after them either. When you’re talking about what color someone is, that alone doesn’t automatically mean you’re discriminating against them. Sometimes it’s just pointing out a fact; some people are black and some people are white. Or pinkish, in my case, and sometimes fire engine red if I’m out in the sun too long without sun block.

However, is the use of “Redskins” as a football team name, discriminatory? Well let’s look at it with the white/black skin comparison. Would “Whiteskins” or “Blackskins” be acceptable team names? Or “Yellowskins” for that matter? Somehow I don’t think so. Hence why I tend to lean towards the side of change, if just barely.

“Yes you can be offended but it is not your right to change the name because you find it offensive, the majority say it is fine and the schools on the reserves still want to be called Redskins, that should be enough proof that most are okay with the name.”
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I agree with your post, but let’s not act like the reason the name is going to stay is because the majority gets what they want. It’s not a matter of majority vs. minority. It’s a matter of rights. It’s within a team’s right to name their team whatever they want; just as it’s within a person’s right to be offended by the name.

The same boring narrative from the Dems and now DOJ Holder is so predictable. DOJ Holder is supposed to be separate from BOTH parties when it comes to upholding the Laws of the Constitution. Yet, he only supports one party and refuses to do his sworn duties to uphold the laws of this country.

After taking softball questions throughout the interview with ABC , he then decides to put in his 2 cents (not even worth 2 cents in my opinion) on the Redskins. He declares there is racism in this country yets fails to point out who is actually the racists and where it is coming from (no facts included). Being the DOJ one would think he would have prime examples but failed to mention one. Innocent until proven guilty (Law-School 101 class) remember Holder?

This is another example of the Administration having a agenda against not only the Redskins but the NFL. It all goes back to the NFL saying NO to Obama and the Democrats refusing to promote the ACA in paid TV commercials last Fall and Winter (during the NFL games).

There has been an agenda against the NFL ever since. You can look it up and connect the dots (anyone can do the research and do a timeline from the date the NFL said “no” to the Obama administration). They don’t like to be told “no” and hold a grudge/vendetta against anyone who does so. Pathetic. Good luck with the Redskins name being changed. Holder, Obama, Reid and all of the rest of the Progressive Democrats will lose.

I’m going to speak personally now, I’m offended by the Attorney General and the crony that appointed him and their politics, so I want them removed, starting today.

Washington is a strong city with a rich history that would gain a lot more respect with better leaders at the helm, especially ones that took responsibility for the issues that the have help create instead of continuing to make comments on issues as such as a football teams name but when fingers are pointed at them for answers on their own issues, they either don’t have or have lost the information.

You try this as a citizen if the government has questions for you and see where that game ends for you.

Our government officials are more of a joke than this name change saga. Good day!

To me it just goes to show you how desperate those who are obsessed with this issue really are. Eric Holder..LOL..really? Seriously?

It is truly sad this site bothered to mention this guy’s opinion on the matter. He is one of the most corrupt and incompetent AG’s ever and everywhere he looks he sees racism. So what a shock he thinks the redskins name is racist or offensive. This is like being shocked the sun rises in the east.

It’s an absolute waste of bits to even “print” this guys opinion here or anywhere else. Of course I’m guilty of taking the time to write this post over someone’s opinion who is worth about as much as the dog crap on my shoe but sometimes things just floor me so much it’s hard not to comment. And actually believing eric holder’s opinion carries weight at all truly knocks me off my feet…with laughter.

Chris Cooley went to an Indian reservation to ask the NA’s about this so that he would be able to make an informed opinion on the name change. What he found was overwhelming support for the team and the name, but also extreme outrage from NA’s having other people speak for them. Case closed.

I still can’t get over Holder not being in jail.. I honestly thought he was…. same with the dude that used to be Obama chief of staff…. just found out he is not in jail but is the mayor of Chicago (now I understand why their murder rate is taking off)